The Hispanic Leadership Network will be holding their “Inspiring Action” conference at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Fla. on Jan. 26-27. Over 20 panelists and guest speakers are scheduled to address the right-of-center attendees. Last week, as reported by Examiner, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was the only GOP candidate scheduled to speak at the event. Tuesday’s press release by HLN and posted at BizJournals.com reveals that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Santorum will also be in attendance. Texas Rep. Ron Paul will be the only one skipping the event.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez will serve as conference co-chairs. Florida freshman Rep. Marco Rubio will also be in attendance. Last week, as reported by Examiner.com, Gingrich was the only GOP candidate slated to attend the conference.
The conference beings on Thursday night with a welcoming reception and a debate watching party will be co-hosted by HLN, CNN and the Republican Party of Florida. CNN will be covering the debate party live from Miami during the Republican presidential debate in Jacksonville. Speaker Gingrich, Governor Romney and Senator Santorum will address the HLN conference on Friday.
According to Hispanic News, recently released Census data shows that the Latino population is growing in the United States. Therefore, “Latino voters have the best chance to influence outcomes in 10 states” for congressional elections as well as the presidency in 2012. One of the top five "Latino influence states" is Florida where Hispanic’s make up nearly 20 percent of the population. This means that the positions of the GOP candidates on immigration will play a big part in who wins the 50 winner-take-all delegates awaiting them in Florida’s Jan. 31 primary.
Where Santorum appears to stand more in middle of the uncommitted road, the contrasts between Romney and Gingrich on immigration could not be more stark.
As outlined on his campaign website, Gingrich advocates making English the official language of the United States, securing the border and deporting the majority of illegal immigrants. But he tempers his position with the suggestion that America adopt a more compassionate approach in dealing with law-abiding undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for 25 years or more by granting them a form of legal status that does not equate citizenship.
Romney, on the other hand, strongly opposes any immigration reform that would open a path to legal status or American citizenship for any illegal immigrant regardless of how long they’ve lived here, how much they have contributed to their community or how much family they would have to leave behind if they were deported. His campaign website curiously omits any mention of his positions on immigration.
Considering Romney’s hard-line position on immigration the former Massachusetts governor will have some high hurdles to jump over if he expects to win any support from the audience at the Hispanic Leadership Network conference. This may explain why Romney’s campaign released a new Spanish language radio advertisement on Monday ahead of his appearance at the HLN conference in Miami titled “Estoy,” or "I am," which was picked up and posted on the Race42012 website along with the Spanish to English translation.
Gingrich launched a Spanish campaign website, “Newt Presidente” a month ago.
Santorum seems to prefer maintaining a vague, stand in the middle of the road approach to immigration. As described by The Political Guide, which has compiled an extensive report on Santorum’s immigration position history -- including interviews, debate responses and his voting record as a Pennsylvania senator – Santorum “opposes benefits for illegal aliens, comprehensive immigration reform, supports a border fence and making English the national language.” However, he has only “hinted at providing some method of "dealing with" those already in the US.”
For additional ambiguity, where Santorum’s website states that he “believes that the key to a strong immigration policy begins with securing the American border” and that in order for “America to grow and prosper, developing a strong immigration policy must become a priority,” he gives no specifics on how he plans to achieve these measures.
According to the December 2010 report released by the United States Census Bureau, 22 percent of Florida’s population is Hispanic.
As reported in December by the Miami Herald, 72 percent of GOP voters in the Miami-Dade area are Hispanic.
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